• more about #blackisthenewblack more comments →
    hippichx sez PEACE PLEASE: i'm going to be honest... i, too, stereotype animal print when i see it. i immediately think "punk rock". i apologize to the many this may offend, b... more »
    feministabroad: Oh yea, wearing clothing and shoes inspired by Africa is all cool and shit but possibly helping Darfur or other countries in need of SERIOUS help...oh... more »
    Easybreezy: Very well written piece. Can Wendi guest-star on Jezebel at some point?! more »
    Eric Northman is mine: The masked face with its feathers of hair glares from the instep. And the savage hybrid of a shoe mixes python straps and a sky-high heel with beads, ... more »
    Trulymadlyme: Of course Africa is one big homogeneous place. Sigh. Nigeria fashion differs from Ethiopian fashion, which differs from Libyan fashion (which is fucki... more »
    Evie Havok: So, I see that they used a lot of black models. Is this the only time it's permissible to use black models when they're shilling "African" clothing. A... more »
    maneki neko: Okay, confession time. I like animal prints, a lot. And up to this point I've treated them like just another pattern with no particular inherent value... more »
    mharker: I understand and (agree with most of) Racialious' points, but I wonder...is there any way to respectfully have African influences in clothing if the d... more »
    jigglyball: This is from the New York Times? That's so embarrassing for them. Did they not, at the very least, read Heart of Darkness in 10th Grade Honors English? more »
    msAnthrope: my friend who was born in liberia is regularly asked by others what it was like to live in tents out in the jungle with elephants, zebras and tigers. ... more »
    Wit is periodically disensouled: Thesaurus fail. Well, brainfail in general, really. more »
    Ailatan: You guys, they have those creepy Mischa Barton shoes. more »
    EkaterinaBallerina: Wait, what? Africa isn't a country? That's the last time I get my geography from Sarah Palin. more »
    EkaterinaBallerina: I love that it's the 21st century and yet every time you throw some animal prints and wooden jewelry on a model, it's still called "African" or "Triba... more »
    misspell: Oh shit. The folks at Racialicious already addressed the point most heinous to me: "The colonial world has also been mined for inspiration." Right, be... more »
  • #blackisthenewblack

    "African" Fashion Described As A "Drumbeat"

    Last month, The New York Times ran a fashion story titled "Out Of Africa," about trends like leopard print, safari style and a "savage hybrid" of a shoe. Amazing analysis here. [Racialicious]